Latest news with #non-French
Local France
3 days ago
- Business
- Local France
So you want to move to France and work remotely?
The French job market is not always an easy place for foreigners - unlike in countries such as Sweden or cities like Berlin, working for a French company or even an international organisation will usually require a decent level of French. Although there are some jobs open to non-French speakers, these tend to be lower paying and casual in nature. READ ALSO The jobs in France where you don't need to speak French Add to that the fact that employees from non-EU countries are generally less attractive to French employers because of the extra administration required , and it can be tough to get a job here. For these reasons the idea of moving to France but working remotely for a non-French company is an appealing one - it allows you to work in your native language and stay within your professional field, while completing the move to France. Since the pandemic, more and more companies are amenable to remote work, so this solution seems like a win-win. Advertisement There are, however, some potentially significant hurdles around residency, tax and employment status. Residency The first thing to consider is your residency status - if you are not a citizen of an EU country you will need a visa and then a residency permit in order to live in France, and the type of visa/permit you get depends on whether or not you are working in France. If you have citizenship of an EU country then you can ignore this bit and skip to the next section. Some European countries have, or are introducing, a specific digital nomad visa aimed at remote workers. However France has no plans to do this, so you will need to fit your work into the existing visa structure. There are four main types of working visa; salarié (for employees), entrepreneur (for self-employed/freelance), talent (for people in certain highly skilled or highly paid jobs) or vie privée (for people who have a French or EU spouse). You can find full details on the conditions for each visa HERE . In the past it's been regarded as possible for people on the 'visitor' visa to work remotely from France, provided their work was not for a French company and was not connected to France - although more recent guidance from the tax office suggests that this is not the case . They say: "The 'visitor' residence permit does not allow the holder to carry out any professional activity in France, including remote work. This could be considered a breach of the conditions of residence." Employed v self-employed Then there's the issue of how your remote work will be managed - will you remain an employee of your current company and simply shift to France? Or will you become self-employed and work on a freelance basis? It's important to establish this early because it affects the type of visa you apply for. In both cases there are some important things to consider. Self-employed - this might seem like the more straightforward route, but you need to ensure that you truly are 'self-employed' by French standards. Advertisement The French Code du Travail is keen to eliminate the practice of fake self-employment - where companies declare their staff as freelance, but in fact set their terms, conditions and working hours. Companies like Uber tried this and lost a series of labour court rulings. The key thing about being self-employed is that you cannot work for only one client - freelancers and contractors are advised to have at least three clients. If you are working only or mostly for a single client, then France will deem you an employee. If you're moving from being employed to self-employed you also need to ensure that you raise your hourly rate - employers save a significant amount of money in social contributions if their workers are no longer employees, which is why some try to claim that their staff are freelance. If you are working at the same rate as an employee, this could be seen as a form of 'disguised employment'. If you are self-employed you also need to register as a business with the French social security agency URSSAF, and set up a separate bank account for work - full details here . Advertisement Employed - if you're already an employee and want to stay as one, then your company will need to fulfil a number of requirements in order to hire staff who are based in France. If the company has a French division, then it is much easier to transfer you, but if they have no presence in France then they will likely need to set up a French subsidiary. Companies employing French staff also need to consider that they will fall under French employment laws on certain issues - including strict liability if the employee has an accident at work. In this case 'at work' applies even if your workplace is also your home. The company will also need to pay social security contributions for you, including things like pension contributions and unemployment insurance and will also be covered by French laws that require them to provide things like meals or a meal allowance and (in some cases) travel passes. READ ALSO What employees are entitled to in France Taxes If you're living in France you will need to make the annual income tax declaration and you will need to declare all of your worldwide income. Advertisement The form divides your income into French income and overseas income - and when it comes to remote work, the tax office provides clear guidance. Here's what the tax office told The Local: "The French tax authorities (DGFiP) consider that work is carried out in France when it is physically performed from French territory, regardless of the employer or the location of the clients. "So, if you're an employee or freelancer working for a company based abroad, but physically carrying out your tasks from France, this constitutes work carried out in France for tax purposes." This means that your income will be taxed at the French rate, and you will also pay social security contributions on this income - depending on your home country, the French tax and social security deductions are likely to be higher as France is one of the most heavily taxed countries in the world. Citizenship This is probably not an immediate concern for people who are making the move to France, but after five years of residency you will be entitled to apply for French citizenship. However it's worth noting that remote work is not always looked upon favourably when it comes to citizenship applications. As part of the application, you must show that you are fully integrated into French life, including professional life (if you are of working age). Having your entire professional life based outside France can be viewed as a lack of economic integration , which is a reason for a citizenship request to be denied. A recent circulaire sent by the Interior Minister stressed the importance of professional integration in France. This article is part of a series on remote working in France - find the full series HERE
Local France
4 days ago
- Business
- Local France
Tax offices clarifies rules for remote working in France
The issue of foreigners being physically present in France but working remotely for a non-French company has always been regarded as a bit of a grey area - largely because visa rules were mostly written before remote working became common. This is especially pertinent for people who are in France on the 'visitor' visa , although it also has tax implications for all foreigners who are doing remote work. Here's what the tax office told The Local: "The French tax authorities (DGFiP) consider that work is carried out in France when it is physically performed from French territory, regardless of the employer or the location of the clients. "So, if you're an employee or freelancer working for a company based abroad, but physically carrying out your tasks from France, this constitutes work carried out in France for tax purposes." Advertisement Visa If you are a non-EU citizen you will need a visa and/or residency permit to live in France, and some of these specify that you are not permitted to work. The most common of these is the 'visitor' visa, which states that holders "may not work in France". However, there has always been some confusion over how to interpret work "in France" - does that mean the work is carried out in France, or is it enough simply for you to be in France while doing the work? The latest guidance from the tax office, however, is clear that they do consider remote work to be "in France". When it comes to the situation for foreigners in France with a visa/residency permit, they told us: "The 'visitor' residence permit does not allow the holder to carry out any professional activity in France, including remote work. This could be considered a breach of the conditions of residence. "If you are in France on a 'visitor' visa: you are not allowed to work, even freelance, for a foreign company." The spokesman continued: "If you work in spite of this, you run the risk of; tax recalculation; refusal of an application to renew your residence permit; possible administrative sanctions." Types of work The visa rules have always been clear for work that is carried out physically in France - if you are a non-EU citizen you require a visa/residence permit that allows work, and may also need a work permit. The most common types of visa/residency permit that allow work are; salarié (for employees); independent (for self-employed, freelance or contractors), talent (for people in high-skilled industries or highly paying jobs) or Article 50 TUE (for Brits who lived in France prior to Brexit). Explained: Working visas for France Doing remote work for a company outside France was previously considered a grey area, especially if the company and the work had no connection to France. Advertisement However, the latest guidance from the tax office makes it clear that work is considered to be "in France" if you are physically present in France - sitting on a French chair in a French town/village/seaside resort as you work on your laptop. It also echoes recent guidance from the social security agency URSSAF , which also considers that remote work done from France counts as work in France, and may therefore require registration as a self-employed/small business practitioner. France does not have a digital nomad visa or a similar type of visa aimed at remote workers. Other visa types/Europeans For those whose visas do allow work, remote work is therefore not an issue - but does need to be declared for tax (see below). Citizens of EU countries have the right to both live and work in France, whether that work is remote or not. Advertisement If you are already in France with a working visa but want to either switch your career to remote work or start remote working as a side hustle , you need to check whether the terms of your visa/residency permit allows this - for example a salarié card would not normally allow you make your living as freelancer. If you are not already, you will likely have to register with URSSAF if you begin taking on extra remote work on a freelance basis. Tax The tax situation was already fairly clear, but the tax office response puts it in focus. If you are resident in France, regardless of your visa/residency permit, you are required to complete the annual tax declaration, and the declaration requires you to declare all of your worldwide income. Remote work done for companies outside of France must therefore be declared in France - however if it has already been taxed in the work where the country is done, then you will usually be eligible for tax credits (depending on the tax treaty between France and the country where the work was done), which means you won't have to pay tax on it France. It must, however, still be declared. This article is part of a series on remote working in France - find the full series HERE
Japan Today
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Japan Today
Opponents of French players at the French Open deal with insults and whistling and, yes, even gum
FILE - France's Arthur Rinderknech participates in the wave with fans during a first-round match against Italy's Jannik Sinner in the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, May 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) tennis By TOM NOUVIAN and HOWARD FENDRICH In all sports, there are advantages to being at home. At the French Open tennis tournament, being a visitor playing against a French player can feel as though the whole world is against you. The crowds don't just cheer. They boo, they whistle, they make noise between serves, they hurl insults — and, at least once, even gum — at the locals' opponents. That sort of behavior is why the tournament organizers banned alcohol from the stands last year, a policy still in place. Some of the non-French athletes who deal with that sort of negativity in Paris, such as 19-year-old Jakub Mensík of the Czech Republic, who eliminated Alexandre Müller in front of a rowdy crowd at Court 14 on Tuesday, compare the high-intensity atmosphere to that of a soccer game. Others choose stronger terms. 'Disgusting. Worst experience of my life,' was what Nicolás Jarry of Chile said this week when asked to think back to last year's rowdy loss at Court Simonne-Mathieu to France's Corentin Moutet, whose coach had implored the spectators to make life 'hell' for Jarry after the two had a contentious meeting in Santiago earlier in the season. Jarry blamed that on Moutet, saying that everything was calmer during his loss Monday to another Frenchman, Arthur Fils, whom the Chilean called a 'good guy' and a 'gentleman.' 'It's a battle out there, you know. Sometimes, it's not just a battle with the player,' said Novak Djokovic, who is scheduled to face the irrepressible Moutet in the second round Thursday. Expect an antagonistic atmosphere. Djokovic sure does. 'They're going to have the crowd on their side. It's nothing strange about it. It's expected,' the 24-time Grand Slam champion said. 'But it is true that here in France and in Paris, comparing to other Slams, the people are louder and more passionate and just give more support, louder support, more energy to their player, which for some (opponents) can be annoying. It's not the kind of ideal environment you want to be playing in, but you have to be ready for it.' So much for the supposed silence usually found in a tennis arena. It all raises questions about where the line between support and incivility lies. 'We've stepped up security," tournament director Amélie Mauresmo, a former No. 1 player, said before this year's event, "and given chair umpires greater power to intervene and report unacceptable behavior in the stands.' For Mensík on Tuesday, the jeers began every time he hit the ball during the warmup ahead of his 7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-3 win over France's Müller. More arrived once play began, accompanying each of his 20 aces or just when he simply walked to check a ball mark — a routine part of clay-court tennis. After taking the third set, Mensík gave the boo birds a little bit back, waving his right index finger as if it were a baton conducting an orchestra, a move he learned from Djokovic. 'Sometimes,' Mensík said of the crowd, 'it is too far.' Still, there are those who shrug it all off. 'That's part of tennis, especially here. My opponent had her fans here; I have mine in Belgium. It's normal," said Elise Mertens, the 24th-seeded Belgian who was a semifinalist at the 2018 Australian Open and lost Tuesday to Lois Boisson of France at Court 14. 'Fans were loud but not insulting. I didn't feel any particular hostility.' There are two sides to the loud backing French players receive. It 'makes you feel like you could reach for the stars,' said the highest-ranked French woman, Varvara Gracheva, who acknowledged that support also can become a burden. She lost in the first round Tuesday. It's been a quarter of a century since a woman representing the host nation won the singles title at the French Open ( Mary Pierce in 2000) and even longer since a man did ( Yannick Noah in 1983). 'As French players, we're under pressure all the time when we play here' said Moutet, currently ranked No. 73. 'When you lose, you 'suck.' When you win, you're 'King of the World.' So you have to try to ignore the pressure.' Nathan Fhima, an 18-year-old high school student from Paris, figured his compatriots needed his voice. So there he was this week at Roland-Garros, waving a blue-white-and-red French flag and screaming himself hoarse while skipping class to watch qualifying and first-round matches. 'We have to push them, because not much will happen otherwise,' he said after watching France's Diane Parry lose Monday. 'Maybe that noise will lift a homegrown champion to victory again. We have to believe.' © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
NBC Sports
28-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Opponents of French players at the French Open deal with insults and whistling and, yes, even gum
PARIS — In all sports, there are advantages to being at home. At the French Open tennis tournament, being a visitor playing against a French player can feel as though the whole world is against you. The crowds don't just cheer. They boo, they whistle, they make noise between serves, they hurl insults — and, at least once, even gum — at the locals' opponents. That sort of behavior is why the tournament organizers banned alcohol from the stands last year, a policy still in place. Some of the non-French athletes who deal with that sort of negativity in Paris, such as 19-year-old Jakub Mensík of Czechia, who eliminated Alexandre Müller in front of a rowdy crowd at Court 14, compare the high-intensity atmosphere to that of a soccer game. Others choose stronger terms. One player says French Open fans can be 'disgusting' 'Disgusting. Worst experience of my life,' was what Nicolás Jarry of Chile said when asked to think back to last year's rowdy loss at Court Simonne-Mathieu to France's Corentin Moutet, whose coach had implored the spectators to make life 'hell' for Jarry after the two had a contentious meeting in Santiago earlier in the season. Jarry blamed that on Moutet, saying that everything was calmer during his loss to another Frenchman, Arthur Fils, whom the Chilean called a 'good guy' and a 'gentleman.' 'It's a battle out there, you know. Sometimes, it's not just a battle with the player,' said Novak Djokovic, who is scheduled to face the irrepressible Moutet in the second round. Expect an antagonistic atmosphere. Djokovic sure does. Roland-Garros spectators can be 'louder and more passionate' 'They're going to have the crowd on their side. It's nothing strange about it. It's expected,' the 24-time Grand Slam champion said. 'But it is true that here in France and in Paris, comparing to other Slams, the people are louder and more passionate and just give more support, louder support, more energy to their player, which for some (opponents) can be annoying. It's not the kind of ideal environment you want to be playing in, but you have to be ready for it.' So much for the supposed silence usually found in a tennis arena. It all raises questions about where the line between support and incivility lies. 'We've stepped up security,' tournament director Amélie Mauresmo, a former No. 1 player, said before this year's event, 'and given chair umpires greater power to intervene and report unacceptable behavior in the stands.' For Mensík, the jeers began every time he hit the ball during the warmup ahead of his 7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-3 win over France's Müller. More arrived once play began, accompanying each of his 20 aces or just when he simply walked to check a ball mark — a routine part of clay-court tennis. After taking the third set, Mensík gave the boo birds a little bit back, waving his right index finger as if it were a baton conducting an orchestra, a move he learned from Djokovic. 'Sometimes,' Mensík said of the crowd, 'it is too far.' Still, there are those who shrug it all off. Some players say the rowdy crowds in Paris are just part of tennis 'That's part of tennis, especially here. My opponent had her fans here; I have mine in Belgium. It's normal,' said Elise Mertens, the 24th-seeded Belgian who was a semifinalist at the 2018 Australian Open and lost to Lois Boisson of France at Court 14. 'Fans were loud but not insulting. I didn't feel any particular hostility.' There are two sides to the loud backing French players receive. It 'makes you feel like you could reach for the stars,' said the highest-ranked French woman, Varvara Gracheva, who acknowledged that support also can become a burden. She lost in the first round. 25 years since a Frenchwoman won the French Open, 42 since a man did It's been a quarter of a century since a woman representing the host nation won the singles title at the French Open (Mary Pierce in 2000) and even longer since a man did (Yannick Noah in 1983). 'As French players, we're under pressure all the time when we play here' said Moutet, currently ranked No. 73. 'When you lose, you 'suck.' When you win, you're 'King of the World.' So you have to try to ignore the pressure.' Nathan Fhima, an 18-year-old high school student from Paris, figured his compatriots needed his voice. So there he was this week at Roland-Garros, waving a blue-white-and-red French flag and screaming himself hoarse while skipping class to watch qualifying and first-round matches. 'We have to push them, because not much will happen otherwise,' he said after watching France's Diane Parry lose. 'Maybe that noise will lift a homegrown champion to victory again. We have to believe.'
Business Standard
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Business Standard
French Open opponents face insults, whistling, and even gum attacks
In all sports, there are advantages to being at home. At the French Open tennis tournament, being a visitor playing against a French player can feel as though the whole world is against you. The crowds don't just cheer. They boo, they whistle, they make noise between serves, they hurl insults and, at least once, even gum at the locals' opponents. That sort of behavior is why the tournament organizers banned alcohol from the stands last year, a policy still in place. Some of the non-French athletes who deal with that sort of negativity in Paris, such as 19-year-old Jakub Mensk of the Czech Republic, who eliminated Alexandre Mller in front of a rowdy crowd at Court 14 on Tuesday, compare the high-intensity atmosphere to that of a soccer game. Others choose stronger terms. One player says French Open fans can be disgusting Disgusting. Worst experience of my life, was what Nicols Jarry of Chile said this week when asked to think back to last year's rowdy loss at Court Simonne-Mathieu to France's Corentin Moutet, whose coach had implored the spectators to make life hell for Jarry after the two had a contentious meeting in Santiago earlier in the season. Jarry blamed that on Moutet, saying that everything was calmer during his loss Monday to another Frenchman, Arthur Fils, whom the Chilean called a good guy and a gentleman. It's a battle out there, you know. Sometimes, it's not just a battle with the player, said Novak Djokovic, who is scheduled to face the irrepressible Moutet in the second round Thursday. Also Read Expect an antagonistic atmosphere. Djokovic sure does. Roland-Garros spectators can be louder and more passionate They're going to have the crowd on their side. It's nothing strange about it. It's expected, the 24-time Grand Slam champion said. But it is true that here in France and in Paris, comparing to other Slams, the people are louder and more passionate and just give more support, louder support, more energy to their player, which for some (opponents) can be annoying. It's not the kind of ideal environment you want to be playing in, but you have to be ready for it. So much for the supposed silence usually found in a tennis arena. It all raises questions about where the line between support and incivility lies. We've stepped up security," tournament director Amlie Mauresmo, a former No. 1 player, said before this year's event, "and given chair umpires greater power to intervene and report unacceptable behavior in the stands. For Mensk on Tuesday, the jeers began every time he hit the ball during the warmup ahead of his 7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-3 win over France's Mller. More arrived once play began, accompanying each of his 20 aces or just when he simply walked to check a ball mark a routine part of clay-court tennis. After taking the third set, Mensk gave the boo birds a little bit back, waving his right index finger as if it were a baton conducting an orchestra, a move he learned from Djokovic. Sometimes, Mensk said of the crowd, it is too far. Still, there are those who shrug it all off. Some players say the rowdy crowds in Paris are just part of tennis That's part of tennis, especially here. My opponent had her fans here; I have mine in Belgium. It's normal," said Elise Mertens, the 24th-seeded Belgian who was a semifinalist at the 2018 Australian Open and lost Tuesday to Lois Boisson of France at Court 14. Fans were loud but not insulting. I didn't feel any particular hostility. There are two sides to the loud backing French players receive. It makes you feel like you could reach for the stars, said the highest-ranked French woman, Varvara Gracheva, who acknowledged that support also can become a burden. She lost in the first round Tuesday. 25 years since a Frenchwoman won the French Open, 42 since a man did It's been a quarter of a century since a woman representing the host nation won the singles title at the French Open ( Mary Pierce in 2000) and even longer since a man did ( Yannick Noah in 1983). As French players, we're under pressure all the time when we play here said Moutet, currently ranked No. 73. When you lose, you suck.' When you win, you're King of the World.' So you have to try to ignore the pressure. Nathan Fhima, an 18-year-old high school student from Paris, figured his compatriots needed his voice. So there he was this week at Roland-Garros, waving a blue-white-and-red French flag and screaming himself hoarse while skipping class to watch qualifying and first-round matches. We have to push them, because not much will happen otherwise, he said after watching France's Diane Parry lose Monday. Maybe that noise will lift a homegrown champion to victory again. We have to believe.
